Academy Museum's 'The Horror Show' Traces a Century of Cinematic Fear Through July 2027
In Los Angeles, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has launched "The Horror Show," showcasing nearly 350 artifacts, costumes, and props from the horror genre. Guests enter through a corridor lined with posters and can explore six themed chambers: Gothic, psychological, science, slasher, religion, and ghosts. Curated by Jessica Niebel, this exhibition will be open until July 25, 2027. Notable items include the first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Bela Lugosi's cape, Jack Nicholson's ax from The Shining, and props from Alien. Scholars Angela Marie Smith and Tananarive Due provided guidance. This exhibition aligns with horror's success in 2024's top-grossing films and the 2025 median ROI; Sinners garnered 16 Oscar nominations, while Obsession earned over $500 million on a budget under $1 million.
Key facts
- "The Horror Show" is on view at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles through July 25, 2027.
- The exhibition contains nearly 350 props, costumes, original posters, and horror artifacts.
- Six chambers cover Gothic, psychological, science, slasher, religion, and ghosts.
- Bela Lugosi's cape from the 1931 Dracula and Gary Oldman's armor from the 1992 Dracula are displayed together.
- A first edition of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, one of 500 copies without Mary Shelley's name, is included.
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari poster from 1920 is the oldest film-related object in the show.
- Sinners received 16 Academy Award nominations, and Obsession grossed over $500 million on a less than $1 million budget.
- Scholars Angela Marie Smith and Tananarive Due advised on the exhibition.
Entities
Artists
- Jessica Niebel
- Bela Lugosi
- Gary Oldman
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Eiko Ishioka
- Charles D. Hall
- Tyrus Wong
- Sigmund Freud
- Jack Nicholson
- Daniel Kaluuya
- Christian Bale
- Kathy Bates
- Mary Shelley
- Georges Méliès
- Bram Stoker
- Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
- Hailee Steinfeld
- Angela Marie Smith
- Tananarive Due
- Matthew Taub
- John Carpenter
- Sissy Spacek
- George Lucas
- Mellody Hobson
- Norman Rockwell
- Jack Kirby
- Frida Kahlo
- Banksy
- Kadir Nelson
- Ma Yansong
- Mariuccia Secol
- Andrea Musto
- Aki Sasamoto
Institutions
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Academy Museum Foundation
- University of Utah
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Smithsonian Magazine
- Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Muzeum Susch
- Connexxion
- Pirelli HangarBicocca
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Mississippi
- Chicago
- Cabrini-Green
- Liverpool
- England
- Germany
- Savona
- Italy
- Milan
- Switzerland